Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-31
AFTER MARRIAGE.
GAVE UP HIS WIFE.

In 1869 | was law student and the
confidential clerk of one of the most
prominent and wealthiest lawyers in the
State of Ohio. I was nothing more than
a good-sized boy, just out of the high
scho oil; but notwithstanding my youthful
ness wa S taken into the confidence of
my employer, who trusted me as implic-
lily, if not more so, than he would have a
person of more mature years.
My employer was man about forty
five years of age, with frank, open coun-
tenance, upon which waS almost written
the chief traits of his character-honesty
and generosity. He had been a widower
for some thirteen or fourteen years, and
no child had been left him to fill the
vacancy caused by his wife's departure.
His unmarried sister was his only COM
panion. She filled the position of house
keeper for him, and kept his beautiful
mansion IN the village of c., a sub
urb of principal city in the state, look
ing like palace. There the btother and
sister dwelt together in all their loneliness
but apparently as happy as two mortals
could be. But this happiness was not to
est forever.
The warm summer months of 1869
rolled around, when my employer decid-
ed to take a trip to Saratoga Springs.
His usual visit was three weeks, but this
summer of '69 his stay covered a period
of several weeks. When at last he re-
turned home he did not buckle down to
his practice like In former years after
visit to the springs. His mind seemed
to be occupied with something more i'm
portant than the law, and it was only
few days until L discovered the cause of
his inward agitation. At the expiration
of that time, there came dainty little
violet-scented letter post-marked New
York. He tore it open hastily, devoured
its contents with glee, and blushed like
schoolgirl when he discovered that l
had witnessed the qualification the con-
tents of the letter had given him [ guess
ed the words of that little epistle,
and | knew it would only be
question of time when / wonld
be let into the whole secret. It came
sooner than l expecte d. Three letters
were written by my employer and ans
wers received, when he called me to him
one day, and in an embarrassed way, told
me that he was to leave for New York
that night, and that before week rolled
by he would return with bride. In
spite of his happiness at the thought of
the event which was about to occur. |
could not but feel he was taking fatal
step. Something told me that all would
not be we'll. That night accom- panic
him to the depot and wished him God
speed as the train pulled out and hur
ried him on his way to meet his honny
bride.
tt was lust week when he returned,
and with him came the lovliest little crea-
tare that sun ever shone upon. Big blue
eyes, coral lips, a complexion as clear and
white as a lily a surmounted by mass
of auburn hair made up picture of in
nocent lovliness not often seen. | could
hardly blame my employer for falling in
love with such lovely image, but still l
had that dread feeling that something
awful would happen. The bride was
taken to his mansion at G., and once
installed there my employers sister gave
up her position as Ihousekeeper and left
for the north, never to return. The weeks
and months truled by and during tina
time l carefully watched my employer
for any change in his usually pleasant
countenance. A little over a year had
gone by when at last it came. He grew
silent and mOrose, ane | saw that he was
seriously troubled, but never to a living
soul did he breathe word OF his troubles.
One day he received dispatch calling
him east at once. He hurriedly pre-
pared to answer the summons, as
he intended to leave on the night train
Late in the afternoon he called
me to him and informed me of his
going east and where he would stop while
there. [ saw that he was in a fearful
state of mind and wanted to impart
something to me- but by strenuous eff
fort refrained from doing so. "My son."
said he at last as he reached into the
drawer and pulled out a pair of pistols,
| want you to 60 oot to my house to-
night and take care of Emily" Emily
was his wife. Remain there, he contin
ued, "ultil 1 get home. If anything
happens during my absence telegraph for
me at once. Don't allow any stranger to
enter the house while I am gene. Now
bear that in mind, and if anybody should
attempt to enter use q pistol on him."
This sounded strange to me, but l took
the pistols and that evening went out to
''take care of Emily" He left on the
night train for the east.
I had been at the country mansion two
days and nights, and along in the after
noon of the third day I was in the library
overlooking the lawn, when I noticed
handsome stranger coming up the path
toward the house. I got up and moved
toward the Indoor, and just about that
time l heard a scream up stairs and a
heavy fall. got TO the door just in time
to meet the stranger, who was preparing
to enter without an invitation. He asked
some preliminary questions regarding my
employer and his whereabouts, and he
then informed me that it was not my
employer he desired to see but my en-
ploper's wife. He rudely insisted upon
enteting the house and going straight to
Emily's room, and was preparing to
brush me to one side, when 1 remember
ed my employers instructions, and pulled
a pistol.OI leveled it at the strangers
heart, and threatned to shoot unless. he va
Gated the premises immediately. Slowly
he turned around and walked away from
the house. He sauntered out to the road
way and there he stopped. I called for
the house girl-a big, robust Irish girl
and giving her pistol told her to stand
watch over the stranger. I hurried up